Margaret Carter never imagined that the person she trusted most—her only son—would one day walk away and leave her behind.
It was a cold winter afternoon. Margaret, now in her late seventies, was spending the day with her son Paul, as they often had. He had picked her up from her small home to help run a few errands, something she had come to rely on more as her mobility declined and public transportation grew difficult.
They arrived at a nearby grocery store. Paul parked near the entrance, helped her out of the car, and handed her a short grocery list. “I’ll just circle the block while you shop—I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said with a casual smile. Margaret didn’t think twice. She had trusted Paul her entire life. He was her son—the one person she believed would always be there.
She shuffled slowly through the aisles, picking up essentials: bread, milk, tea bags, and some fruit. She paid at the register and stepped outside…
